South Africa – Day 2, Initial Thoughts

So, here we are in South Africa. We all cleared customs with no problems and we’re busy exchanging currency, and taking it all in. The airport in Johannesburg is not unlike an airport you would see in any major city. Those working in the airport remind you that this country is nearly 80% black. That’s actually a comforting feeling to someone who has lived their entire life in a country where blacks make up 12.5%. One of the reasons why South Africa was able to address black/white racism so openly post Apartheid is the fact that the oppressors were in the minority. Racism has a power dynamic that sheer numbers can impact. I am still looking to see if those numbers also impact hegemony here. Is a black African ethos dominating and determining the way, or are blacks here slaves to the culture of their former oppressors?

Beyond the airport, Johannesburg has an extensive highway system with amazing amounts of construction still in progress. There is also a great deal of new housing being built around the highways. We arrive at Pretoria’s campus, and again there is nothing that feels strange or out of the ordinary here beyond the accents. We will be staying at the University for a few days. Our first real excursion was a trip to the foreign affairs embassy just 2 hours after checking into our rooms. The people at the foreign affairs commission gave us a rundown on what they do, and talked about the positive relationship that they have developed with America since the Clinton years. They spoke very favorably of the relationship between the Bush administration and South Africa, and expressed excitement over the Obama administration. We were all probably a little tired for a meeting with the employees of the foreign affairs commission, but we managed to get through it. Had a nice walk into town before dinner to pick up some water etc., dinner wasn’t bad, and I had a great talk with Dr. Darren Clarke (the director of the South Africa Initiative) during dinner… time for a little sleep!